After twenty-two years at the University of Northern Iowa, I am transitioning into another aspect of my creative life and looking forward to making a positive difference with whatever endeavor I embrace. Looking back at 2021-22, I had the wonderful opportunity to direct five radio plays by playwright, Eric Coble in the fall of 2021. We titled the plays, The Fractured Mind of Eric Coble. I consider this talented playwright to be the funniest playwright second to Mel Brooks. It's rare that I've laughed out loud the past few years when reading a play and Eric Coble makes me laugh - a lot! I'm hopeful we brought a little bit of joy into the world for those that may have listened. I'm proud of the work the students did on these works and potentially discovering the value of voice-over work as young actors.

In the future I anticipate spending more time writing, something I've enjoyed as time allowed in recent years and perhaps directing should the opportunity arise. I completed an interpretation of Antigone in the spring of 2020 which was an interesting process. I've titled the play Kreon as this version ultimately focuses on the choices he makes as a leader. Choices which some people may find familiar regarding a contemporary figure. This adaptation is loosely based on the Sophocles script, but as you may imagine, liberties have been taken. It's a play I'd love to direct as well. 

My ten-minute play, Nice and Kind received a stage reading at the 5th Annual International Short Play Festival in Orange County NY in August of 2021 and in September it was produced by the First Run Theatre in St. Louis as part of their Spectrum Festival of Short Plays. In January of 2022 it was part of the Weathervane Theatre 8x10 Festival of Short Plays in Akron, Ohio. It was also a finalist in the Gulfport Community Players 21st Summer One-Act Competition. Production dates were: July 14-24, 2022 at the Catherine Hickman Theater in Gulfport, Florida. Many thanks to these organizations that focus on new works. It is greatly appreciated.

In addition, my one-act play titled Apples and Elephants focusing on social injustice and the racial challenges in our country, is available to read as part of UNI's program, "Cultivating Justice: a six-week Quest Toward Racial Equality". I'm proud that this play is available for the UNI community to read.

Another one-act addressing a long-term relationship at the beginning of the pandemic titled Confinamento has been completed. Two additional short plays have been written this past spring. They are Sunnyview Lane and The Drive. The Drive premiered at the Northpark Playwright Festival in San Diego in October of 2022. Most recently, I completed The Waiting Game, another ten-minute play. In the meantime, I look forward to submitting all of these plays to various competitions.

Finally, my song, "He's Losing Touch" is available to listen to on You Tube. I hope you give it a listen. If you have known someone with dementia or alzhemier's you may be able to relate to the song in your own personal way. Other songs, including this one can also be found on my Sound Cloud site.

In the meantime, let's be sure to smile. It's my hope that the younger generation will step up and lead the way toward a kinder, gentler, and more ethical society that believes in democracy and equality for everyone.